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Andy McNab's Army Memoirs
Seven Troop
In 1983 Andy McNab was assigned to B Squadron, one of the four Sabre Squadrons of the SAS, and within it to Air Troop, otherwise known as SEVEN TROOP.
This is Andy McNab’s gripping account of the time he served in the company of a remarkable group of men — from the day, freshly badged, he joined them in the Malayan jungle, to the day, ten years later, that he handed in his sand-coloured beret and started a new life. The links they forged then bound them inextricably together, but the things they saw and did during that time would take them all to breaking point — and some beyond — in the years that were to follow. He who dares doesn’t always win . . .
From the Trade Paperback edition.
This is Andy McNab’s gripping account of the time he served in the company of a remarkable group of men — from the day, freshly badged, he joined them in the Malayan jungle, to the day, ten years later, that he handed in his sand-coloured beret and started a new life. The links they forged then bound them inextricably together, but the things they saw and did during that time would take them all to breaking point — and some beyond — in the years that were to follow. He who dares doesn’t always win . . .
From the Trade Paperback edition.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2008
79 people are currently reading
878 people want to read
About the author
Andy McNab
205 books1,160 followersAndy McNab joined the infantry in 1976 as a boy soldier. In 1984 he was badged as a member of 22 SAS Regiment. He served in B Squadron 22 SAS for ten years and worked on both covert and overt special operations worldwide, including anti-terrorist and anti-drug operations in the Middle and Far East, South and Central America and Northern Ireland.
Trained as a specialist in counter terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance and information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces and western backed guerrilla movements as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland he spent two years working as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, going on to become an instructor.
McNab also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team and instructed foreign special forces in counter terrorism, hostage rescue and survival training.
Andy McNab has written about his experiences in the SAS in two bestselling books, Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK. To date it has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc. The BBC's film of Bravo Two Zero, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
Immediate Action, McNab's autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting on an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. To date, Immediate Action has now sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.
McNab is the author of seven fast action thrillers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity and all Sunday Times bestsellers. Published in 1997, Remote Control was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK. McNab's subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light , Liberation Day , Dark Winter , Deep Black and Aggressor have all gone on to sell equally well. The central character in all the books is Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a 'K' on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab's fiction draws extensively on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
Trained as a specialist in counter terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance and information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces and western backed guerrilla movements as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland he spent two years working as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, going on to become an instructor.
McNab also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team and instructed foreign special forces in counter terrorism, hostage rescue and survival training.
Andy McNab has written about his experiences in the SAS in two bestselling books, Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK. To date it has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc. The BBC's film of Bravo Two Zero, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
Immediate Action, McNab's autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting on an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. To date, Immediate Action has now sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.
McNab is the author of seven fast action thrillers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity and all Sunday Times bestsellers. Published in 1997, Remote Control was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK. McNab's subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light , Liberation Day , Dark Winter , Deep Black and Aggressor have all gone on to sell equally well. The central character in all the books is Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a 'K' on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab's fiction draws extensively on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
April 1, 2016
I listened to the audiobook of this. Was well done - I didn't spend the whole time laughing at the narrator.
I was a mega-fan of Andy McNab's work in high school, but I eventually got tired of the "Nick is okay, but someone he cares about dies" plot line, so I haven't read any of his stuff for years. Seven Troop is non-fiction, but the plot is much the same. Which actually helps me understand (or at least, think I understand) WHY his fiction work went the way it did.
The style of writing is very much what I remember of Andy's work - sort of detached and dry, but in an entertaining way - to me it actually felt a lot like coming home. Hearing a familiar phrase such as "good style" actually brought back some really good memories for me, and I found myself laughing on several occasions. But I cried too.
Seven Troop is basically a summary of Andy's time in the SAS and a few years afterwards. It follows the lives of the guys that he was in Seven Troop with and the ways in which they reacted to different situations - war, peace, relationships, mourning, stress, success etc. And PTSD. I'm probably projecting, but I felt like this was his attempt to muddle through why things might have happened the way they did.
Bit of swearing, as per usual, but for some reason the "souf London" accent (if that's what it was) of the narrator somehow rendered it less offensive.
Is basically chronological, so a bit of a time-travel through the Troubles, Thailand, Cambodia, Afghanistan when Osama was a good guy, Colombia, first Gulf War... Wraps it all up with a blurb about PTSD and the way in which the military handles it (or doesn't, as the case may be).
I liked it. I would probably consider listening to it again eventually.
I was a mega-fan of Andy McNab's work in high school, but I eventually got tired of the "Nick is okay, but someone he cares about dies" plot line, so I haven't read any of his stuff for years. Seven Troop is non-fiction, but the plot is much the same. Which actually helps me understand (or at least, think I understand) WHY his fiction work went the way it did.
The style of writing is very much what I remember of Andy's work - sort of detached and dry, but in an entertaining way - to me it actually felt a lot like coming home. Hearing a familiar phrase such as "good style" actually brought back some really good memories for me, and I found myself laughing on several occasions. But I cried too.
Seven Troop is basically a summary of Andy's time in the SAS and a few years afterwards. It follows the lives of the guys that he was in Seven Troop with and the ways in which they reacted to different situations - war, peace, relationships, mourning, stress, success etc. And PTSD. I'm probably projecting, but I felt like this was his attempt to muddle through why things might have happened the way they did.
Bit of swearing, as per usual, but for some reason the "souf London" accent (if that's what it was) of the narrator somehow rendered it less offensive.
Is basically chronological, so a bit of a time-travel through the Troubles, Thailand, Cambodia, Afghanistan when Osama was a good guy, Colombia, first Gulf War... Wraps it all up with a blurb about PTSD and the way in which the military handles it (or doesn't, as the case may be).
I liked it. I would probably consider listening to it again eventually.
March 18, 2024
As usual, war memoirs are the exception to the rule that I don't read memoirs, but unlike the last few times I read one, I wasn't annoyed at the egotistical storytelling.
McNab does pat himself on the back a few times, absolutely, but the focus in this book is mostly his friends and the people he's worked with and how they deal with the things they've seen.
Essentially this book is about PTSD, and he doesn't shy away from the fact that it's a legitimate thing. Which I appreciate, so it gets a extra star!
McNab does pat himself on the back a few times, absolutely, but the focus in this book is mostly his friends and the people he's worked with and how they deal with the things they've seen.
Essentially this book is about PTSD, and he doesn't shy away from the fact that it's a legitimate thing. Which I appreciate, so it gets a extra star!
April 7, 2020
Siamo lontani dal pathos di "Pattuglia Bravo two zero" e di "Azione immediata", ma il mondo dei SAS è raccontato in modo così intrigante e picaresco da McNab che fa venir voglia di arruolarsi e vivere in prima persona le straordinarie avventure di questi giovani, temerari soldati di Sua Maestà. In realtà l'autore punta l'indice mostrando anche il lato oscuro della vita militare, non tacendo i pericoli non solo fisici ma soprattutto psichici che accompagnano queste vite in prima linea ai quattro angoli del mondo, ma senza cadere nella facile retorica e nell'autocommiserazione.
February 2, 2014
The final biographical book that I've read about Andy McNab. I really enjoyed it. Straight talking. Fleshes out the earlier references to his SAS career and what came after. Sobering to read about what happened to his fellows. Definite food for thought.
December 20, 2021
Als Andy McNab zich aansluit bij het leger is hij nog maar 16 en een puistenkop, die amper kan lezen of schrijven. In dit autobiografisch verhaal toont hij de kameraadschap die er tijdens zijn 10-jarige dienstverband bij de SAS ontstaat tussen de diverse leden van zijn groep. Hij vertelt over zijn hoogte- en dieptepunten gedurende die tijd.
October 30, 2025
Great account of what it is like to be an SAS trooper.
August 23, 2014
It was an interesting book; different than the first two he wrote about his time in the SAS [Bravo Two Zero and Immediate Action]. This book focused more on his relationships with his friends and former squad mates in the SAS; most of his close friends from when he served have died and it seemed like he wrote this book as a means of processing their deaths and how their deaths affected him. I found it especially interesting that two of his squad mates were Christians; one of the men was quite vocal about his faith and ended up leaving the SAS to continue his 'Search for Significance' [for lack of a better word]. The other Christian was their leader and he led a quite life [as much as a soldier can]. It is a bittersweet book that frankly discusses issues that arose in their line of work and how it affected the men and those around them. McNab does not apologize for serving in the military [and neither should he], but he points out we civilians [and the politicians who send soldiers off to war] owe more to these brave men [and women] than casting them aside once they have been used up and are broken after spending their lives in defense of their country. One thing I took from the book was that it is not a sign of weakness to ask for help; it is a sign of inner strength and the mindset that asking for help is weakness needs to change in order for these brave men and women to be able to seek and receive the help they need.
April 15, 2014
Very realistic personal account of reality of life in the SAS during the period. It's not a 'hollywood' style Chris Ryan fictionalised version but a much more realistic and well told account of the reality of life in the army (and special forces) and the friendships forged, the endless obsession with brews and the difficulties highly trained tier 1 special forces operators face when they demob.
I read this book back to back and couldn't put it down, classic McNab and one of his best works. If you want a good account of the reality of SAS life this is a great read.
I read this book back to back and couldn't put it down, classic McNab and one of his best works. If you want a good account of the reality of SAS life this is a great read.
April 19, 2015
This book grows on you as you read it. It is heavy in British street language. You read the first 3/4 of the book before it finally sinks in. This is something special. These are real men. It all really happened. Then you begin to morn their passing. You understand why this book was written. It was a special story. It is about comrades and heroism by normal and yet very special men. I am glad I read this book. I would recommend everybody read it and reflect upon those events in British contemporary history.
August 27, 2009
Whilst initially I felt let down by Andy's third non fiction book, the action soon built up; his descriptive style immerses you in the plot, pushing you full circle on the scale of emotions. You'll soon be feeling anger, shock and sadness as you get a real insight into his life in the SAS. Recommendable to anyone.
February 5, 2015
A great account of how a newbie went all the way in the S.A.S, documenting the highs and lows along the way.
May 13, 2022
Come capita a volte a noi lettori, dopo un paio di testi emotivamente sfidanti avverto la necessità di una sorta di pausa, che in genere soddisfo con un thrilleraccio (che spesso si rivela di infima categoria) o con un giallo (il più possibile) di spessore. Di Andy McNab ricordavo due libri – essenzialmente autobiografici – che mi avevano convinto (Pattuglia Bravo Two Zero e Azione immediata) e la delusione di aver scoperto che con la sua opera più narrativa (fra tutte l’infinita serie con protagonista Nick Stone) non avrei potuto colmare questi momenti di respiro fra letture più impegnative. Con Fuoco di copertura avevo proprio mollato il colpo, rimpiangendo il tecnothriller che amavo nella pagine di Clancy e cogliendone l’abissale distanza.
Plotone Sette è, me ne sono assicurato prima di iniziarlo, la conclusione di una trilogia autobiografica che contiene anche i due volumi già citati; se ha un limite, è quello di richiamarli eccessivamente alla memoria, e noi appassionati della materia avremmo certamente preferito pagine del tutto originali piuttosto che un racconto che riporta alla memoria la missione del Golfo (e la conseguente prigionia) così come le azioni già descritte in Azione immediata.
Ma c’è anche un aspetto positivo, che un po’ mi ha colpito: gran parte del volume è dedicato al “dopo il Reggimento”, raccontato sia per quanto riguarda la storia personale dell’autore che quella dei componenti del suo team; di più, Plotone Sette racconta evidenti episodi di stress post traumatico visto con gli occhi di chi indossa o ha indossato la divisa, e si è dovuto quindi confrontare con un ambiente e una cultura che non prevedevano – anzi, nascondevano – crolli psicologici da quelli che erano stati addestrati per assomigliare a super-uomini. La posizione che prende McNab è precisa, diretta e direi anche condivisibile, nella volontà di indirizzare culturalmente le Forze Speciali a prendersi carico di queste problematiche.
Qualcuno – assetato di azione, dettagli militari, azione – lo avrà trovato un limite, a me è sembrata nettamente la parte migliore del volume.
Plotone Sette è, me ne sono assicurato prima di iniziarlo, la conclusione di una trilogia autobiografica che contiene anche i due volumi già citati; se ha un limite, è quello di richiamarli eccessivamente alla memoria, e noi appassionati della materia avremmo certamente preferito pagine del tutto originali piuttosto che un racconto che riporta alla memoria la missione del Golfo (e la conseguente prigionia) così come le azioni già descritte in Azione immediata.
Ma c’è anche un aspetto positivo, che un po’ mi ha colpito: gran parte del volume è dedicato al “dopo il Reggimento”, raccontato sia per quanto riguarda la storia personale dell’autore che quella dei componenti del suo team; di più, Plotone Sette racconta evidenti episodi di stress post traumatico visto con gli occhi di chi indossa o ha indossato la divisa, e si è dovuto quindi confrontare con un ambiente e una cultura che non prevedevano – anzi, nascondevano – crolli psicologici da quelli che erano stati addestrati per assomigliare a super-uomini. La posizione che prende McNab è precisa, diretta e direi anche condivisibile, nella volontà di indirizzare culturalmente le Forze Speciali a prendersi carico di queste problematiche.
Qualcuno – assetato di azione, dettagli militari, azione – lo avrà trovato un limite, a me è sembrata nettamente la parte migliore del volume.
March 10, 2018
After reading ‘Bravo Two Zero’ many years ago I was looking forwards to another book of heart-in-mouth, nothing-ever-goes-quite-as-planned real life tales of life in the Special Forces. But this is quite different - it’s less of a story and more of a collection of periods and friendships throughout the authors military life. On the ground during the Northern Ireland troubles, training in the jungle, fighting drug cartels, and of course desert warfare (the story told in Bravo Two Zero gets only passing mention here and is towards the tail end of the book). What does shine through are the characters and friends; the camaraderie; the sensitivity that many of these soldiers have ... and ultimately the price many of them pay ... not least severe mental illness and suicide which is the lease-than-Happy ending this book portrays.
August 26, 2024
Short sharp bursts of stories that interweave together to paint a picture of the service life of AMc. I found it interesting and thrilling to read about life with the special forces and also the sadness found when following certain characters threads to their abrupt ends.
I particularly enjoyed the military humour found within, for example, AMc's friend has suffered a severe mental breakdown and his response on visiting his dingy home is that the duvet in the living room 'needs a treat by way of the Daz challenge'. Very apt and I can full well imagine the conversation being verbatim.
It highlighted the mental health crisis facing many servicemen and the way that it is being dealt with is not always enough or acceptable.
Would recommend to anyone with an interest in recent military history.
I particularly enjoyed the military humour found within, for example, AMc's friend has suffered a severe mental breakdown and his response on visiting his dingy home is that the duvet in the living room 'needs a treat by way of the Daz challenge'. Very apt and I can full well imagine the conversation being verbatim.
It highlighted the mental health crisis facing many servicemen and the way that it is being dealt with is not always enough or acceptable.
Would recommend to anyone with an interest in recent military history.
August 19, 2024
Rauw boek die goed de problemen weergeeft waar soldaten mee kampen, tijdens en na hun militaire loopbaan. Na het lezen heb je denk ik een naargeestig maar realistisch beeld van het leven als moderne soldaat. Wel moeilijk om te lezen, vooral het begin. De schrijver gebruikt veel verschillende namen en gebeurtenissen die als bekend worden verondersteld, maar dat voor mij niet waren. Verder wordt er veel gevloekt, terwijl hij gelijktijdig het leven van zijn christelijke vriend beschrijft en zelfs psalm 35 volledig in zijn boek citeerd. Een laatste kritiekpuntje is de moeilijk te lezen schrijfstijl. Er worden (voor mij) te veel onduidelijke vergelijkingen en moeilijke eufemismen/beeldspraak gebruikt.
June 25, 2023
A really good read and insight into the life of the special forces. Really gets you into the characters that the book concentrates on and the very traumatic and personal experiences they all had throughout their time in the forces and afterwards. Very sober story for so many of them. Nobody can really understand what they went through but this book does at least give an insight from someone who has experienced it all.
December 8, 2019
The sad reality of the elite warrior
This book by McNab took a bit of warming up to but it is brilliantly written and tells a sorrowful story. McNab portrays his characters with great economy but they leave an indelible impression. It’s a heart breaking story, these gents were all hero’s who deserved better. The humanity of this book is overwhelming.
This book by McNab took a bit of warming up to but it is brilliantly written and tells a sorrowful story. McNab portrays his characters with great economy but they leave an indelible impression. It’s a heart breaking story, these gents were all hero’s who deserved better. The humanity of this book is overwhelming.
November 8, 2020
"Plotone Sette" si pone come un libro che chiude il ciclo della storia di Andy McNab. Se tale ciclo biografico era iniziato con "Pattuglia Bravo Two Zero" e proseguito poi con "Azione Immediata", ora con "Plotone Sette" Andy McNab attua, per gran parte del libro, un riassunto sintetico dei fatti narrati nei libri precedenti, per poi passare nella parte finale ad una riflessione tremenda e truce cui nessuno può sottrarsi. L'autore decide infatti di indagare nell'intimità della psiche di alcuni suoi commilitoni, che, incapaci di superare i traumi dovuti alla PTSD, finiranno suicidi dopo aver inutilmente mandato deboli segnali di aiuto. E' a queste tragiche vicende che McNab tenta di dare una spiegazione, ricercando la verità in quella che è stata la storia del Plotone Sette e riportando gli uomini del reggimento a una dimensione più umana, fino a legittimarne la fragilità interiore, che talvolta, come è accaduto, può portare a gesti estremi come il suicidio. Un libro assolutamente da leggere.
December 18, 2021
A very sobering memoir about Andy McNabs experience in the SAS. While there certainly are stories about McNabs SAS time , the book is really about McNabs “mates” and their time together . The book really focuses on the human toll in special forces and PTSD. This is a very honest account and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in the Military History genre.
October 17, 2022
Loved this book. Written with short punchy chapters, it covers McNab's whole military career giving some wonderful insights to the life and hardships endured by SF personnel and describes some of the colourful characters he served alongside. Demolished this in just over a day - simply couldn't put it down.
November 22, 2023
Excellent book from Andy about special forces and the brothers in arms spirit.
Talks about the heartbreaking loss of loosing a close fellow soldier in battle and the long aftermath of PTSD and other mental health problems sometimes resulting in tragic outcomes.
Some very extraordinary Men of exceptional courage and toughness.
Talks about the heartbreaking loss of loosing a close fellow soldier in battle and the long aftermath of PTSD and other mental health problems sometimes resulting in tragic outcomes.
Some very extraordinary Men of exceptional courage and toughness.
October 22, 2025
McNab offers a fascinating inside look at the elite training and extraordinary skills developed within the SAS — from the grueling Selection process to advanced specializations like freefall parachuting, mountain warfare, driving, and close-quarters combat. His storytelling style, full of camaraderie and banter among the troop, captures both the humor and professionalism that define these soldiers.
The book also carries a somber note. McNab reflects on the heavy toll of war — many of his mates were either killed in action or later struggled with severe PTSD, with some tragically taking their own lives. It’s a powerful reminder of the human cost behind the heroism.
If anything, I was left wanting a bit more detail about the actual missions — more of the action and field operations that McNab is so good at describing. Still, it’s an engaging and deeply human account of life inside one of the world’s most elite military units.
The book also carries a somber note. McNab reflects on the heavy toll of war — many of his mates were either killed in action or later struggled with severe PTSD, with some tragically taking their own lives. It’s a powerful reminder of the human cost behind the heroism.
If anything, I was left wanting a bit more detail about the actual missions — more of the action and field operations that McNab is so good at describing. Still, it’s an engaging and deeply human account of life inside one of the world’s most elite military units.
May 25, 2017
A great look into. A crazy world
A great read meanders a little at times but allows civilians a little peak into the special forces world. And if you have read Andy's other works you will begin to understand those stories a little better
A great read meanders a little at times but allows civilians a little peak into the special forces world. And if you have read Andy's other works you will begin to understand those stories a little better
June 15, 2019
Most influential, insightful book I've read. Great insight or teaching of a just do it attitude and how to cope with difficult situations. Shows the brotherhood developed in war also! Also captures the ugliness of war very realistically.
May 24, 2017
Interesting read that fills in the gaps of his other non-fiction works and touches a lot on the aftermath (PTSD) of what these guys went through.
March 22, 2018
Interesting view of a special forces soldier
August 26, 2018
As told in very brutal British language , this book tells the story of Andy and his friends from the beginning to the end with the SAS ... A good reading
February 28, 2019
Great
Great book a b c d e f g h I j k l m n o p a e s t u v w
Great book a b c d e f g h I j k l m n o p a e s t u v w
March 17, 2019
Good read
Was good to see what else he did to get further in the year's he was in the sas really a good read
Was good to see what else he did to get further in the year's he was in the sas really a good read
March 22, 2019
Great book - really interesting. Must read Tom Read (Charles "Nish" Bruce) book "Freefall"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews